On Calvary shed. Beneath the cross it grew,
And in the vase-like hollow of its leaf,
Catching from that dread shower of agony,
A few mysterious drops, transmitted thus
Unto the groves and hills their sealing stains.'

It is much to be lamented, that the lyre of the gifted Hemans was shivered into dust, so soon after it had been tuned to sacred minstrelsy. It would otherwise have rendered audible the hymns of many flowers. We cannot refrain from quoting a few lines more from one of her latest strains, 'On the lilies that are serene in the calm clear water, but no less serene among the black and scowling waves.'

The concluding stanza of Night Flowers' is also beautiful:

"We are the emblems, night's dewy flowers,

Of hopes unto sorrow given,

That spring through the gloom of the darkest hours,
Looking alone to Heaven.'

We cannot conclude these few lines, without casting a tributary shamrock on the grave of her, whose exquisitely beautiful floral analogies have enwreathed her name with Chapters on Flowers.' She walks no longer upon earth, but her imaginative work still renders audible the hymns of flowers in many a gardenbower. May we walk, as she did, extracting spiritual from visible beauty, until we pass away, as she did, to wear the amaranth-wreath of immortality. SIDNEY O'MOORE.

ON THE SERVICES OF THE CHURCH.

No. XII.

In our last number, we considered the deprecatory part of the Litany, closing with an earnest appeal to the sufferings of the Redeemer. The portion which comes under our notice this month conforms fully to the precept of the Apostle. I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority.'-A strong sense of need and danger will impel an awakening sinner to pray for himself, as imperatively as hunger will impel a starving man to seek food. To pray fervently for others implies a higher exercise of spiritual life, more conformity to him whose Name is Love, love which no selfishness could ever taint.

"That it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universal in the right way.' We have often noticed the filial character of our Church service, it breathes again in this prayer. We do not attempt to dictate to our heavenly Father which is the right way, we merely present before him the holy Church universal, and leaving all to the good pleasure of his will, entreat his rule and governance. We have great need to offer this prayer for the church; think of the complex movements of this world, the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, the weakness and frailty of her own members; she is exposed to all these suppose for one

moment the ruling hand which now orders the course of the world were withdrawn, what confusion, what ruin must follow. Nothing less than infinite wisdom could guide a vessel in such a sea, could rule and govern a Church in the midst of such a world. This prayer has been offered for above a thousand years, and looking back upon the course of the Church, during that period, it requires some faith to believe it has been answered. For long centuries, the thick darkness of the middle ages hung over her, and when the light of the reformation arose, and the angel appeared clothed with the sun and a rainbow about his head, still the victory was not gained, in many countries the light was quenched in blood, in others, after burning brightly for a while; it was dimmed by clouds of unbelief and indifference. Has this been the right way? Yes, "what I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." We know that He has done it, for He orders all things both in heaven and earth. We realize more vividly that He has done it, when we trace on the prophetic chart the way which has seemed so winding, and see it is the very path He had marked out, and here we must rest, the knowledge of the reasons why He has done it, is a privilege reserved for that better land, where we shall see Him face to face, and know even as we are known.

Prayers for the Queen and Royal Family follow, in the same spirit as those in the Order for Morning Prayer, which we have already considered; they are prayers which may well shame our feeble faith and low expectations. Because kings have been so seldom humble servants of the Most High, and nursing fathers of his Church, we pray as if the Lord's hand was shortened, and He would not give the blessing which we seek.

For the ministers of God, in all orders of the Church, we pray, first that their own minds 'may be illuminated with a true knowledge and understanding of God's word.' Their task is no round of external observances, which the obedient lip, hand, and knee, may be taught to perform, their distinctive character is, that they are teachers, and that they may teach us aright, they must themselves be taught of God, they must know and understand. But we hear farther of gifts of teaching, all who know are not equally apt to teach, we pray therefore further, that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth and shew it accordingly.' A holy heaven-taught clergy, endued with special gifts of teaching is then the object of this prayer and is it not at this moment the special need of our country? In some measure God has heard the prayer, there has been a great awakening in the Church, many places, once desolate, are beginning to bud forth as the garden of the Lord, but still very much remains to be done, and we know that faithful pastors are in a special manner the gift of God. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelists and some pastors and some teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth more labourers into his harvest."

Having thus sought blessings for our Sovereign and her family, and for our spiritual rulers and teachers, we next bring before our God all those in stations of authority and influence in the land. That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the Council, and all

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the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding. That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, &c." When we reflect how widely diffused is the influence of the higher classes, for all these, whether or not graced by noble titles, would be included in the spirit of this prayer, its importance will be clearly seen. Let us think of the national duties resting upon the Lords of the Council, of the social duties resting on the man of wealth, of the blessedness which an honest true hearted Christian in such a position spreads around him, of the blight that rests on the neighbourhood where selfish enjoyment is the law which regulates a great man's household. Let us think of the perplexities attendant on great possessions, the difficulty of righteously adjusting the claims of all, the fascinating temptations such a path offers to the mere worldling, the difficulties which beset it for the true child of God, and the moral strength he must require to shake off the tyrant rule of fashion: then, when the picture is complete, let us say if the great do not need grace, wisdom, and understanding. They need grace, for to them it must be specially difficult to make God's glory the ruling principle of life; they need wisdom and understanding, that they may adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things, and steer their course aright amidst all the dangers that surround them. Magistrates are especially selected as subjects for our intercession, the maintenance of public justice has long been the glory of England, but our Church has rightly judged, that the true way of preserving this choicest of national treasures, is to commit it to the safe keeping of our God. She teaches us, not to boast of an Englishman's natural sense of justice, but to pray Sabbath after Sabbath, that God would give grace to our Magistrates to execute justice and maintain truth.